THE ASSOCIATION OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIAL ISOLATION WITH SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE IN OLDER ADULTS
2024

Social Support and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Sample size: 31625 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Amin Iftekhar, Jesmin Syeda

Primary Institution: University of North Texas at Dallas

Hypothesis

Does social support and isolation affect the onset of cognitive decline in older adults?

Conclusion

Addressing social support and connectedness is crucial for promoting cognitive health in older adults, especially women.

Supporting Evidence

  • 10.1% of older adults reported confusion or memory loss.
  • Lower social support scores were linked to higher reports of cognitive decline.
  • Isolation effects on cognitive decline were stronger for Whites and Blacks compared to Hispanics.

Takeaway

Having friends and family around can help older people think better and feel less confused.

Methodology

Logistic regression models were used to analyze data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Participant Demographics

Community-dwelling older adults aged over 65.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI = 2.3, 2.9 for men; 95% CI = 2.6, 3.2 for women

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.0472

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